Redknapp clueless on Woodgate injury lay-off

Harry Redknapp has admitted there is "no light" at the end of the tunnel for Jonathan Woodgate's latest injury, with mixed opinions from doctors leaving the Tottenham boss clueless at to when his centre back will be fit again.

Woodgate, 29, suffered with the groin complaint last season and travelled to Germany for an operation in August but the problem has not gone away despite a recent injection for the injury. Woodgate has only completed two games this season, the recent Premier League wins over Sunderland and Wigan, but is back on the sidelines again.

"He's had the injection but it doesn't seem to have done the trick really,'' Redknapp said. "I don't know if he can have another operation, he's had so many. I don't know what the next step is really. It's a shame, he's such a good player. When he's fit he's fantastic for us but he is struggling a bit at the moment again.''

Woodgate is not training due to the nagging problem, which has the potential England World Cup squad member away from the pitch indefinitely.

"Everyone comes up with different opinions,'' Redknapp said. "It's difficult. Some people want to inject it, others want an operation. It's very hard to find with an injury like that, to get to the bottom of it all. There's no light you can see. With a broken ankle or whatever at least you know what you're dealing with. But these injuries can drag on forever.''

"Woody wants to play football so it's a big blow for him,'' Redknapp said. "He's good enough for England. He's top class. Him and Ledley, and Michael Dawson is playing well for us as well.

"We're lucky really we've got four centre-halves here because we'd be in trouble with Ledley and Woody out injured. It's an area where we've had some cover and it's important. When Jonathan and Ledley played together last year they were a great partnership. But getting them out on the pitch at the same time has proved more difficult.''